Ed Sheeran is “pretty sure” Courteney Cox is singing on his new album

Todd Williamson/Getty Images for EB Kids

If you collaborated with one of the stars of one of the most famous TV shows ever, you think you’d remember it, right?  Well, Ed Sheeran apparently is not 100% certain whether Courteney Cox appears on his new album, = [Equals].

Ed’s friendship with Courteney goes back years; the first time he ever came to Los Angeles, he stayed with her, and they’ve been friends ever since.  In fact, he introduced her to Johnny McDaid, his frequent collaborator, who she’s been dating since 2013.

Speaking about Courtney, Ed tells Entertainment Tonight, “I’m pretty sure she sings on background vocals on the album. I think she’s on ‘Visiting Hours,'” referring to the song he wrote for his late friend, concert promoter Michael Gudinski.

“If not, she was definitely on [my Divide album] somewhere,” he adds.

When asked if he was serious about Cox singing on the record, which is due out in October, Ed replied, “I think so. Yeah…she is!”

As far as the entire album is concerned, Ed tells ET, “I got married. I became a father. I lost a really close friend and turned 30. I feel like it’s a coming-to-terms album.”

Ed’s new single, “Shivers,” is on track to debut at number one on the U.K. singles chart. If it does, Ed will replace himself on top, as his hit “Bad Habits” has been number one for 11 weeks.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Kelly Clarkson plans new Christmas album; watch her duet with Chris Martin on “Since U Been Gone”

Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal

The third season of Kelly Clarkson‘s Emmy-winning talk show premiered on Monday, but the singer will have another gift for fans later this year: According to The New York Times, a Christmas album is on the way.

According to The Times, while launching the new season of the show, Kelly is “simultaneously preparing a new Christmas album for release later this year.”  Kelly’s first Christmas album, 2013’s Wrapped in Red, featured the now-perennial hit “Underneath the Tree.”  Since then, she’s released several more holiday songs, including last year’s duet with Brett Eldredge, “Under the Mistletoe.”

Speaking about her show, which is being positioned to take over for Ellen DeGeneres‘ show when it concludes its run, Kelly tells The Times, “No one can take over for Ellen. It’s an iconic show.” She says comparing her talk-show-host style to Ellen’s is as useless as comparing her to other female singers.

“I’m never going to be Whitney Houston — I’m never going to be Cyndi Lauper, Reba [McEntire] or Trisha [Yearwood] or Mariah [Carey],” Kelly notes. “I’m going to be me. I think that’s fine. There’s room for everyone at the table.”

Meanwhile, on today’s episode of Kelly’s show, Coldplay‘s Chris Martin serenaded her with a rendition of his band’s song “Green Eyes,” which she described as one of her favorites tunes.  Then, Kelly sang “Since U Been Gone” as Chris accompanied her on his acoustic guitar. 

At another point during Chris’ appearance, he serenaded Kelly’s two children, River and Remington, with the Coldplay hit “Yellow” — until Remy interrupted the song to announce that he had to go to the bathroom.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Jameson Rodgers marries singer-songwriter Sarah Allison Turner

Matthew Berinato

Jameson Rodgers is a married man!

The “Some Girl” hitmaker tied the knot with fellow singer-songwriter Sarah Allison Turner on September 5 at The Venue at Birchwood in Spring Hill, Tennessee, just outside of Nashville, People confirms.

The couple shared their personally written vows with one another, and Sarah asked her mother and sister to write a motivational message on the bottom of her shoes. 

“I’ve never felt more loved than I did last Sunday with all our friends and family in one place celebrating Sarah and me. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with Sarah,” Jameson raves.  

The couple met at a songwriting workshop at the famous Bluebird Cafe in Nashville in 2011 and dated for six years before Jameson popped the question in 2020. They plan to honeymoon in Mexico later this year. 

Jameson will release his debut album, Bet You’re from a Small Town, on Friday. He continues on his Cold Beer Calling My Name Tour through December, with his new bride serving as a supporting act on select dates.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Beyoncé channels Audrey Hepburn singing “Moon River” in Tiffany’s ABOUT LOVE campaign

Mason Poole

After celebrating her 40th birthday on September 4, Beyoncé is channeling a Hollywood and fashion icon in the latest segment of her Tiffany ABOUT LOVE campaign with Jay-Z, which debuted Monday.

The 28-time Grammy winner sings “Moon River,” which was performed by Audrey Hepburn in her signature 1961 film, Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The classic won an Oscar for Best Original Song, and Grammys for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

As Queen Bey sang the song while playing piano, Jay shot the video on a Super 8 camera. In the clip, he enjoys watching the playback in a screening room. We also see scenes of Beyoncé flying on a private jet, and embracing romantic interludes with her husband.

“ABOUT LOVE tells a love story of longing, reunion and a bond that transcends space and time,” reads the video caption.

In a series of ads, Beyoncé models the iconic Tiffany Yellow Diamond previously worn by Hepburn. The Dreamgirls star is only the fourth person ever to wear the Yellow Diamond, which was last worn by Lady Gaga at the Academy Awards in 2019. The stone features over 100 carats of white diamonds.

The campaign also features a 22-carat yellow diamond ring and a 15.02-carat emerald-cut diamond ring, plus an 18-carat yellow and rose gold bracelet

Queen Bey posted three photos on Instagram of her wearing a black gown with mesh opera gloves. Hova joins her in a classic black tuxedo and bow tie.

Last week, as part of their ABOUT LOVE campaign, the couple announced that through Beyoncé’s BeyGOOD foundation, and Jay’s Shawn Carter Foundation, Tiffany is donating $2 million toward scholarship and internship programs for historically Black colleges and universities.

 

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

“One of my favorites”: Thomas Rhett is “Country Again” at #1

The Valory Music Co.

Thomas Rhett proves it’s good to be “Country Again,” as his latest single reaches the top of the country charts. 

The singer woke up to the news on Monday morning that “Country Again” has become his 18th #1 song. To celebrate, Thomas turned to Instagram to share his gratitude in a video, and reveal that he spent the morning watching Moana with his youngest daughter, Lennon.

“I wrote this in my basement in the dead center of 2020 and never imagined that it would be the #1 song in the country,” Thomas says, citing the track as “one of my favorites.”

“So thank y’all,” Thomas declares. “Thank you for everything, for all the support.”  

But the video didn’t end without some parting words from one-year-old Lennon, who was sitting by her dad’s side on the couch, with Thomas coaching her to say “bye bye” and “love you.” 

“Country Again” is the title track of the singer’s latest album, which also features previous #1 hit, “What’s Your Country Song.” 

Thomas continues on his Center Point Road Tour through October 9.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Sammy Hagar to play free Las Vegas concert next week to celebrate his new line of canned cocktails

Credit: Zan Passante

Sammy Hagar is launching a new alcoholic beverage venture called Sammy’s Beach Bar Cocktail Co. featuring sparkling rum cocktails in a can, and he’ll celebrate the new drink line with a special free concert in Las Vegas on Wednesday, September 22.

The show, which will feature the Red Rocker performing with his band The Circle, will take place on the rooftop of the Paris Las Vegas hotel at the Beer Park bar, beginning at sunset, 6:30 p.m. local time.

Fifty pairs of free tickets will be given out to Hagar fans who register at RedRocker.com. Registrations will be accepted until midnight ET on Thursday, September 16. You must be at least 21 years of age to enter. Winners, who will be selected by a random drawing, will be announced this Friday, September 17.

Meanwhile, Hagar also is giving away a signed electric guitar via a contest on Sammy’s Beach Bar Cocktail Co.’s Instagram. To enter, visit Instagram.com/SBBCCo and post your best inspirational motto.

Sammy’s Beach Bar Cocktail Co. drinks are available in four flavors — Tangerine Dream, Pineapple Splash, Island Pop and Cherry Kola Chill. The cocktails, which are made with made with Hagar’s Beach Bar Rum, will go on sale this month in California, Texas and Nevada, will be available in several other states soon.

“Sammy’s Beach Bar Cocktail Co.’s sparkling rum cocktails will make you want to dip your toes in the sand,” says Hagar in a statement. “You’ll want to throw these cocktails in a cooler and take them to the beach, your pool party, out tailgating, and your backyard barbeque. They’re so good that they’re even going to be your favorite drink at your local bar.”

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Ozzy Osbourne releases new version of Lemmy collaboration “Hellraiser”

Watal Asanuma/Shinko Music/Getty Images

Ozzy Osbourne has released a new version of his song “Hellraiser,” which was written in collaboration with Motörhead‘s Lemmy Kilmister.

The updated recording marks the first official version featuring both Ozzy and Lemmy’s vocals. You can download it now via digital outlets.

“I hope everyone enjoys the song,” Osbourne says. “This is just a small way to honor my friend Lemmy. Sharon and I talk a lot about how much we miss him.”

The original “Hellraiser” was recorded by Ozzy for his 1991 solo album, No More Tears. Motörhead then did their own version for their 1992 album, March ör Die.

Meanwhile, a digital and vinyl reissue of No More Tears is set to drop this Friday, September 17 — 30 years to the day after it was first released.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

“It’s fun to be back!”: Carrie Underwood delivers new ‘Sunday Night Football’ intro

Chris Haston/NBC

Carrie Underwood is ready for Sunday night with a flashy new Sunday Night Football intro. 

The video finds Carrie strutting through a digitized tailgating scene while delivering her powerhouse vocals on the theme song, “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night,” set to the tune of Joan Jett‘s “I Hate Myself For Loving You.” 

The clip opens with Carrie singing outside of a football stadium as fans enter waving flags in the air. That’s followed by clips of dancing NFL players and past game highlights. Carrie then enters the stadium, taking a stage that lifts her off the ground as she’s surrounded by twirling spotlights.

“It is always a pleasure to get to do the Sunday Night Football open,” the superstar says in a statement, adding that the “super high-tech set” was a “cool environment” to perform in. “I felt like I was in a stadium being on a set in L.A. It was super cool, and I feel like it turned out that way as well,” Carrie continued. “But we’re all about bringing the hype and energy and getting people ready for a great game. So, it’s fun to be back!”

This marks Carrie’s ninth year singing the Sunday Night Football theme song.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Christmas is canceled: Backstreet Boys’ Yuletide activities pushed to 2022

Anne Barson/FilmMagic

Over the weekend, Backstreet Boy AJ McLean was a presenter at the MTV VMAs, but his appearance came shortly after the group announced that all their Christmas plans for this year have been put on hold.

Later this year, Backstreet was scheduled to do a series of Christmas shows in Las Vegas and release their long-awaited Christmas album, but it turns out all those plans have been shifted to next year. 

In a message to fans, the band explains that they feel that the album “deserves the best possible scenario and set up for success,” and with “the current state of the world still limiting our travel and causing small things…to take much longer,” they’re going to put out the album in 2022 instead.

And of course, with no Christmas album, the need for holiday shows also goes away; fans will receive refunds at the point of purchase automatically. 

“While we are disappointed, we know this is for the best,” the boys write. “And we absolutely cannot wait to share the magic of this album with all of you when the time is right!”

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Imagine Dragons earns top-10 ’Billboard’ 200 debut

Credit: Eric Ray Davidson

Imagine Dragons‘ new album Mercury — Act 1 debuted in the top 10 on the Billboard 200.

The fifth studio effort from Dan Reynolds and company enters the chart at number nine with 31,000 equivalent album units, 17,000 of which were traditional album sales.

ID previously peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 with their 2015 sophomore effort, Smoke + Mirrors. With Mercury, all five of the band’s full-length studio records have reached the chart’s top 10.

Mercury — Act 1 includes the singles “Follow You,” “Cutthroat” and “Wrecked.” Imagine Dragons will launch a U.S. tour behind the album in 2022.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.